So they don't know how much is down there and the relief well is starting to look iffy

[Iwasthere]

One miilion gallons of toxins erupting into the Gulf daily,...The horror (to our entire GD planet, I don't care what they say about it breaking down). President Obama, please fine BP the maximum ($4300.00 per barrel). And also fine them for the killing of all the endangered species that live in the gulf, which I realize is rather arbitrary (just take the highest estimate). The world needs to understand oil is NOT the answer. We all might just have to be a litte inconvienienced in order to save the planet, imo. Drive an electric (I personally drive veggie cars). Get solar and wind power everywhere NOW (at least get moving fast), this will put so many to work too. No more foot dragging. I am so angry and wrote this quickly, excuse the errors

[Webster Green]

1. Who is saying the relief well is starting to look iffy?

I would like to read about that.

[htuttle]

4. The Montara rig accident off Australia (2009) took 5 relief wells to shut it down

I suppose they can just keep trying until it works, but it takes several months per attempt.

[Uncle Joe]

13. It sounds to me like they should be drilling two or three relief wells at once,

and not consecutively.

[Iwasthere]

7. They have said numerous times that a relief well at this depth has NEVER been accomplished

They have also said that they will be getting in to very hard rock and the target they have to hit is VERY small. They are drilling just one right now and two (maybe). In August there are many variables, the biggest; the weather systems. Expecting a bad year this year. The relief well (should be wells) is NOT a guarantee.

[Webster Green]

16. Here's a comment from an experienced driller at 'theoildrum.com'

<-> ROCKMAN on May 31, 2010 - 11:37am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Parent subthread | Comments top

Fierz – Re: #2 As the original hole was drilled continuous surveys were taken that can spot the well bores location within 10’s of feet. The short answer is that directional drilling can hit such a distant target miles away within 10’s of feet. You can search “directional drilling” and find lots of details on this technology. Once the relief well gets close there are electronic sensors in the drilling assembly that can detect the casing in the well. It will be a slow process compared to current drill rates. But it will work. Maybe not the first time or two but eventually

[pocoloco]

12. No brainer.....

They are only drilling half as many as originally planned!

[aquart]

2. Destroy them. Destroy BP.

[HughMoran]

3. Relief well iffy?

since when?

[northernlights]

5. since yesterday's news

and this morning. Tony is already backsliding on the relief wells. They're really hard to do. They may not work. It's real hard to drill that deep and find the original well to tap into or something like that.

[RKP5637]

8. I can see why at that depth they could have a problem locating precisely the

original well with two relief wells... especially if hard rock. I'm no expert, but just saying I could see it being difficult. I never heard anything about this until it seems about yesterday... any backsliding at all on the relief wells. It was touted as the ultimate answer. I bet there is a lot, of course, that we haven't been told.

[northernlights]

17. apparently it took 5 tries with their disaster last year

in Australia. :(

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, that's what really concerns me here too. To me, it's like trying to put

two needles in a haystack with precision and hoping they meet. I was just thinking about how much wiggle room they have when they reach the well. It seems even with tunnels for roads, trains and the like the alignment is never perfect, they have to make some adjustments the last x feet. Someone, maybe it was you, said I think, that was only in 250 feet of water. I could be wrong, just trying to remember.

[Desertrose]

6. When do we reach the point that the welfare of the planet trumps profits?

Oh wait, I think we passed that point awhile ago but the ones in charge seem to have missed the whole message. Too bad we all sink or swim (or drown in oil) together.

[RKP5637]

9. And the real wars for remaining planet resources have not really begun. We had

Iraq, but when the large countries start to get into a real bind all hell is going to break lose IMO if we're not a lot more into alternative energy.

[inna]

10. I read that they pay the fine only for the oil that actually washes ashore -

I don't know if it's true or not. Can anyone confirm either way?

[charlesg]

14. The law says "into or upon the navigable waters of the United States":

It's for every drop of oil that spills into U.S. navigable waters.

33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq. (1972)

(3) The discharge of oil or hazardous substances (i) into or
upon the navigable waters of the United States, adjoining shorelines,
or into or upon the waters of the contiguous zone, or (ii) in
connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act or the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, or which may affect natural
resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive
management authority of the United States (including resources
under the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976), in
such quantities as may be harmful as determined by the President
under paragraph (4) of this subsection, is prohibited, except (A) in
the case of such discharges into the waters of the contiguous zone
or which may affect natural resources belonging to, appertaining
to, or under the exclusive management authority of the United
States (including resources under the Fishery Conservation and
Management Act of 1976), where permitted under the Protocol of
1978 Relating to the International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships, 1973, and (B) where permitted in quantities
and at times and locations or under such circumstances or
conditions as the President may, by regulation, determine not to be
harmful. Any regulations issued under this subsection shall be consistent
with maritime safety and with marine and navigation laws
and regulations and applicable water quality standards.

[inna]

15. Thank you; that sounds encouraging.

BP should pay for every drop of oil they released in the Gulf (whether or not washed ashore), as well as toxic dispersants, IMO.

[mrJJ]

11. But at 5000 feet?,,, no answer

Relief Well Was Used to Halt Australian Spill

snip

The Montara spill differed from the gulf spill in some ways that made it easier to stop, and in other ways that made it harder to stop. To begin with, the Montara drilling platform was operating in water that was 250 feet deep, while the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig leased by BP was on a seabed 5,000 feet deep.

snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/us/03montara.html